If you’re wondering how long weed will stay in your system, you’ve come to the right place. With the laws surrounding cannabis constantly changing, it’s good to have an idea.
Long after the effects of marijuana are gone, remnants of THC can remain detectable in your body. In this blog post, we’ll explore how the body metabolizes THC, how the presence of THC is measured and detected, and what factors influence the body’s processing times.
We’ll also share some tips on speeding up the elimination of THC from your body. Whether you’re trying to pass a drug test or just looking for general information about how THC metabolizes, we’ve got you covered. Keep reading to learn more about marijuana detection methods and periods so you can be informed and prepared.
What Is THC?
THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the main active psychoactive chemical in cannabis. It’s what gives you the sensation of feeling high. Different cannabis strains contain varying levels of THC, so the type and potency of marijuana you use will impact how long it’ll stay in your system.
How THC is Metabolized in the Body
To understand how long weed will stay in your system, it’s essential to understand how it’s metabolized by your body.
In short, THC is absorbed through the bloodstream and distributed to various organs and tissues before being metabolized in the liver and then eliminated from the body via urine, sweat, and feces.
So, how long does weed stay in the body? While you may stop feeling the effects of THC a few hours after use, detectable amounts can stay in your system much longer. Let’s take a more detailed look at each step in the metabolic process.
Bloodstream Absorption
THC is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream after marijuana inhalation with THC levels in the blood reaching peak concentrations after 6 to 10 minutes. If ingested orally, THC can take up to 90 minutes to enter the bloodstream.
Distribution to Organs and Tissues
After entering the bloodstream, THC is distributed to the body’s tissues. It then circulates to the organs—including the brain, heart, and kidneys—and is present in small concentrations throughout the body. THC also travels through lymphatic channels and binds with CB1 endocannabinoid receptors.
Metabolization in the Liver
THC metabolization begins in the liver, where it’s broken down through microsomal hydroxylation and oxidation. Enzymes CYP2C9 and CYP3A4 are involved in this process, which results in the production of different metabolites.
Additionally, these enzymes also impact how much THC is eliminated from the body at once. However, THC can inhibit or delay these enzymes from doing their job properly if taken over a long period. This results in more cannabinoids staying present for longer periods, as well as increased amounts of certain metabolites being produced with each dose taken.
Elimination Through Urine, Sweat, and Feces
THC and its metabolites are eliminated from the body via the digestive and urinary systems. Around 65% of cannabis is excreted through feces and about 20% is expelled in urine.
Most of the metabolites, including THC COOH, enter into bile and travel to the intestines where they’re broken down by bacteria before being excreted in the feces. Approximately 20% of THC passes through the kidneys and bladder before ending up in urine (often with trace levels left behind in sweat too).
Factors That Affect THC Processing
Frequency of use, amount consumed, body composition, metabolic rate, consumption method, hydration level, and other medications or substances in the system all play a role in how long THC remains detectable in the body.
Frequency of Use
The frequency of cannabis use can have a large impact on how quickly THC gets processed and eliminated from your system. For occasional users, marijuana may only stay in their system for up to 3 days after consumption. In contrast, regular or heavy users may test positive for up to 30 days after the last use.
Amount of THC Consumed
The amount of THC consumed also significantly affects how long it stays in the system. Generally, the more THC that has been ingested, the longer its presence will be detectable. THC is stored in fat cells for a longer period with higher intake levels. Higher levels can remain active in the body for up to three months after consumption, while lower amounts usually pass within two weeks.
Body Composition
Body composition largely impacts how long THC stays in the system. Since cannabinoids such as THC are fat-soluble, they’re stored in fat cells and fatty tissues and released slowly over time, which can cause the drug to linger longer in the body. For occasional cannabis users with low body fat levels, metabolites may only stay detectable for up to seven days, whereas individuals with a higher body mass index (BMI) or more fatty tissue typically retain THC up to 28 days following use.
Metabolic Rate
Metabolic rate plays a considerable role in how long THC stays in an individual’s system. Generally, individuals with faster metabolic rates clear THC from the body quicker than those with slower metabolisms. THC is broken down and eliminated primarily through enzymatic processes in the liver. Someone with higher hepatic enzyme levels might be able to break down and eliminate THC faster. Additionally, people who are at a healthy weight are more likely to have faster metabolic rates, which can result in swift clearance of THC from the body.
Consumption Method
The consumption method also has a significant influence on how long THC stays in your body. Inhaled marijuana enters the bloodstream rapidly, producing immediate effects as it’s absorbed into organs and tissues. The effects last up to four hours while traces of THC remain detectable in blood for up to 24 hours, depending on the amount consumed and the frequency of usage. For edibles, THC takes about two hours to enter the bloodstream with a detection window of up to 30 days after use. THC from topical creams can remain detectable for up to 90 days, depending on usage frequency.
Hydration Level
Proper hydration is essential in the processing and detection of THC in the body. Dehydration may cause increased levels of THC. When there’s a decrease in bodily fluids due to inadequate water intake, it can lead to higher concentrations of THC molecules in the bloodstream. This can cause a false positive on a drug test since creatinine ratios used for measuring metabolite concentration would be incorrect.
Other Medications or Substances in the System
Medications—prescription and over-the-counter—and supplements can have a major impact on how THC is processed in the body and detected by drug tests. High doses of opioids may reduce levels of active metabolites from delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) present in urine samples. Some anticonvulsant drugs like Valproic Acid can interfere with enzymatic processes associated with THCA metabolization, leading to higher THCA concentrations in blood and urine samples.
Average Duration of THC in the System
How long THC stays in a person’s system depends on many factors, one of which is how often the person uses cannabis products. How long THC stays in your system can vary significantly in occasional users, infrequent users, and chronic users. Light or moderate use of THC products typically results in a lower concentration of detectable THC in the body, however, these levels may still show up on a drug screen or test used for detecting marijuana.
Occasional Users
If you’re an occasional user, THC typically stays in your system for up to a month following use. This detection window may vary depending on factors such as the amount of cannabis consumed and frequency of usage. Those who use marijuana less frequently tend to have shorter detection periods, whereas those who smoke more often may see an extended period of time during which they could test positive for THC in tests like urine analysis.
Regular Users
THC tends to have a very long half-life for habitual users. If you’re a regular user of marijuana, THC will typically stay in your system for up to 25 days after your last use. Generally, occasional users will process THC more quickly than regular users, who may have detectable levels of THC present for weeks or even months. As a result of frequent usage, regular user’s metabolic rates are permanently changed and they often have an increased half-life of 5 to 13 days before any notable decrease is seen in measurable amounts. These measurements can vary depending on other components, so it’s important to be aware that individual factors will determine each person’s unique processing time.
Chronic Users
Chronic cannabis users may have higher levels of THC in their system compared to occasional or regular users. Frequent marijuana use leads to an increase in residual amounts of THC found in organs and tissues, resulting in extended processing and elimination times.
THC Detection Methods
To determine whether someone has used cannabis, drug tests are most commonly done to measure the THC levels in a person’s system.
Urine Tests
Urine tests are a common method for detecting THC in the body. These tests can detect THC metabolites—compounds produced when the body breaks down THC—which may be present in urine within 48 hours after cannabis use and remain detectable for as long as several weeks or even months afterward. Smoking one marijuana cigarette can produce detectable levels of THC in urine samples that last up to 30 days later in habitual users.
Blood Tests
A blood test can detect THC in the body for a short period of time—typically only a few hours after use. Blood tests are used to determine recent and short-term cannabis use, making them an effective tool for detecting acute impairment due to the psychoactive cannabinoids found in marijuana. As soon as two hours after consuming cannabis, THC can be detectable in both blood and saliva samples, although accuracy decreases with increased time from peak drug levels. The amount of THC consumed, frequency of use, metabolic rate, body fat composition, hydration level, and other medications or substances in the system also play a role in determining how long THC might remain detectable by a blood test. Overall, a blood test has one of the shortest windows of marijuana detection among available drug testing methods including urine testing.
Hair Tests
A hair test is a reliable and accurate way of detecting THC in the system. These tests provide a long detection window, usually up to 12 months, if slower-growing hair samples are taken from the body, such as the hair on or around the ears, scalp, legs, and arms. It’s possible to measure how much cannabis was consumed by analyzing the THC content present in different parts of the hair sample. In particular, THC-COOH can be detected in beard hairs for up to 11 weeks after use.
Saliva Tests
A saliva test is an effective way to detect THC in the system. Used for roadside testing, these tests have a detection window of up to 72 hours after cannabis use. This is much shorter than a typical urine, blood, or hair test. In comparison to other consumption methods, orally ingested THC can be detected quicker due to its lower potency, which allows it to quickly enter into circulation.
How Long Does THC Stay Detectable With Each Method?
The duration of THC detectability varies greatly depending on the type of drug test used. Understanding these different testing methods and their timelines can provide crucial information about how a drug test can detect marijuana and how long THC can stay in your system.
Urine tests: These are the most common form of drug testing. THC can be detected in urine for different periods, depending on the frequency of use. For occasional users, THC may be detected for up to 3 to 7 days. However, for more frequent users, this can extend to 30 days or longer.
Blood tests: This type of testing is less common and is usually used in specific settings such as legal proceedings or accidents. The detectability window of THC in blood tests is relatively short for occasional users, usually around 3 to 4 hours. However, for chronic users, THC can still be detected in the blood for up to 25 days.
Hair tests: Hair follicle tests are used to check for long-term drug use. THC can be detected in hair for up to 90 days after use. This testing method is quite sensitive and can even detect a single instance of marijuana use.
Saliva tests: These drug tests are more prevalent in roadside testing due to their convenience. However, they have a shorter detection window and are generally only able to detect marijuana for approximately 24 to 48 hours after use.
Tips for Speeding Up THC Elimination
There are several ways to speed up the system’s THC elimination process, such as increasing water intake, regular exercise, and a balanced diet. Detox products are also available that can help speed up the elimination of THC from the body.
Drink Plenty of Water
Drinking more water can help the body eliminate traces of marijuana quicker than usual. Staying hydrated is essential for optimal performance and can help flush toxins out of our systems, including THC. Drinking plenty of water aids in moving these metabolites along faster by increasing urine production as well as bowel movements.
Exercise
Physical activity can speed up THC metabolization and removal from the body. High-intensity exercise can significantly boost THC elimination as it increases blood flow to organs, such as the liver, where marijuana metabolites are broken down. Regular cardiovascular exercise can increase metabolism while also cleansing oxygenated blood through sweat. This can help flush out stored cannabinoids from adipose tissue faster.
Healthy Diet
One of the best ways to hasten the elimination of THC from your system is to focus on nutrition. Eating a balanced diet of nutrient-rich foods (e.g., leafy greens, fruits, and lean proteins) can support natural detoxification processes in the body. These foods are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, which can improve liver function and aid in THC metabolism for quicker elimination. Herbs like turmeric and cayenne pepper can support better detoxification by enhancing blood circulation. Drinking plenty of water can flush out metabolic toxins faster while fiber intake will add bulk to stools, promoting regular bowel movements, which can lessen the presence of THC in the system.
FAQ
Will exposure to secondhand marijuana smoke cause a positive drug test result?
According to a study conducted by Johns Hopkins Medicine, THC concentrations were present and detectable in non-smokers exposed to secondhand marijuana smoke, resulting in positive tests. Additionally, a study conducted by Dr. Matthew Springer of the University of California San Francisco suggests that secondhand exposure to marijuana smoke can also result in negative effects on the small blood vessels and cardiovascular system.
How long does weed stay detectable in urine?
If you use cannabis products and have an upcoming urine test, you may be wondering—how long does weed stay in urine? According to the American Addiction Centers, moderate and light users can expect a positive urine test for up to a week after use. For heavy users, THC can remain detectable in a urine sample for about a month.
How long does marijuana stay detectable in hair follicles?
How long marijuana remains detectable in your hair varies depending on several factors. Generally, THC and marijuana stay detectable in the hair for two to three weeks, however, cannabinoids can remain detectable in the hair for up to three months.
What is a marijuana addiction?
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V-TR) from American Psychiatric Publishing, a person may have a marijuana addiction if they meet certain criteria including but not limited to: difficulty fulfilling personal and/or professional obligations due to cannabis use, giving up or limiting important activities due to cannabis use, and experiencing withdrawal symptoms when attempting to decrease or stop cannabis use.
In short, if a person’s use of THC reaches a point of interfering with their life, work, or relationships, that person may have a substance abuse disorder. If you meet the criteria for marijuana use disorder, consider reaching out to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, American Addiction Centers, National Institute of Mental Health, or the American Psychiatric Association for information and support.
Conclusion
Many factors affect and determine how long weed will stay in your system, such as frequency of use, overall health, and metabolism. A urine test is the most common form of testing, followed by a saliva test, which can be positive for up to 24 hours after last use. Blood tests typically have a shorter detection window for THC at around 4 hours. Hair follicle testing may detect weed even months after last use.
Despite these general estimates, everyone processes and metabolizes THC differently. Individual circumstances can affect how long marijuana stays in their system. For this reason, it’s difficult to accurately predict when a person will pass a drug test. It’s important to recognize this variability to avoid positive results from drug screens.
As a side note, if you or someone you know is displaying signs of drug abuse, there are many organizations—such as the American Addiction Centers and the National Institute of Mental Health—that can help you learn more about addiction and how to stop marijuana use. Some of the most common indicators that a person may suffer from drug abuse or marijuana use disorder include an inability to meet personal or professional obligations due to excessive marijuana use or experiencing symptoms of withdrawal such as insomnia, irritability, and shakiness.
